If you thought Google Maps was handy for getting from A to B, the web mapping service is going one step further to try.

In a post to Google's blog on August 27, Google Maps product manager Vishal Dutta announced the launch of the navigation app's new feature — it allows users to combine different modes of transport, door-to-door.

Until now, cars, public transport, ride-sharing, ride-hailing, cycling, and walking routes have been predominantly marked out separately.

Among the different transit options included are ride-hailing, ride-sharing, and cycling. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

From now on, Google will be able to piece together a route for you combining the different ways to get around.

By entering your destination and then tapping "directions" or "transit".

You'll then be offered routes featuring different options, including ridesharing and cycling — as well as transit directions.

If you opt for a ridesharing route, you'll be shown useful information about traffic, how much the journey will cost, and how long the wait will be. It will even allow you to pick a preferred provider and to opt for different ride options, including pool or economy.

If you prefer to cycle, there are also routes tailored specifically for cyclists. The app might, for example, recommend you get to a bus stop by bike to save time on a journey, or to take an Uber or Bolt at the end of a trip.

These two recent initiatives are indicative that Google is trying to get ahead in the battle to become the multimodal transport platform — however, Google isn't the only company trying to appeal to transit riders; Uber, Citymapper, and Bolt are just some of the many tech giants involved in the same battle.

In the long term, there are possibilities for expanding this feature to include options based on price, speed, and even your carbon footprint.

Ultimately, it will be the algorithms that will make the difference between one app and another.

Google will even allow you to pick a preferred provider when looking at ride-hailing options. Olly Curtis/Future via Getty Images

Due to the resources and data Google has at its disposal, the company is strategically well-positioned despite the fact that it's not actually a transport operator.

As an intermediary, a single platform could recover data and could even manage payments, eventually.

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